Spring-hinge.



W. G. NOLTE.

SPRING HINGE.

APPLIGATION 111.111) JULY 29, 1911.

1,016,515, Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

WITNESSES INVENTOR J ;&-\Allamey COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, n.c.

V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIS C. NOLTE, 0F DAZEY, NORTH DAKOTA, ASSIGNOR TO SPRING GATE HINGECOMPANY, OF DAZEY, NORTH DAKOTA, A. CORPORATION OF NORTH DAKOTA.

SPRING-HINGE.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912. Serial No. 641,315.

To all whom-it may concern:

'Be it known that I, WILLIS C. NOLTE, citizen of the United States,residing at Dazey, in the county of Barnes and State of North Dakota,have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Spring- Hinges, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inthe construction of spring hinges such as are commonly employed inconnection with gates, doors and the like, for holding the sameyieldingly in a closed position.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a spring hingewhich is simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can bereadily placed in position or removed therefrom, and which is sodesigned that the spring will always act freely without any tendency tobind.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a springhinge which can be quickly assembled or taken apart, which comprises fewand durable parts such as are not liable to get out of repair, and whichis positive in its operation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fullyappear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof beingpointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is aside elevation showing the improved hinge as applied to a gate, portionsbeing broken away and shown in section. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectionalview on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation ofthe hinge, the pintle and spring being shown in section, and Fig. 4; isa detail view of the pintle and spring retaining yoke.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the samereference characters.

Referring to the drawing, which serves to illustrate one embodiment ofthe inven: tion, the numeral 1 designates a gate which is provided witha pair of laterally projecting hinge members 2, the said hinge membersbeing perforated and fitting loosely over the pintles 3 carried by thegate post 4. These pintles are normally disposed in a vertical orupright position, and are formed at their lower ends with the lateralarms 5 which engage the gate post. In the present instance these lateralarms 5 extend through the gate post and have nuts 6 threaded thereon,the said nuts bearing against opposite sides of the gate post so as tohave a clamping action and hold the pintle securely in position.

The hinge members 2 turn freely upon the lower ends of the respectivepintles, 3 and rest upon the lateral arms 5 so as to support the gateand prevent sagging thereof. A coil spring 7 is slipped removably overeach of the pintles 3, the two ends of the coil spring being extendedlaterally at 8 and bearing loosely against opposite sides of the gate 1.The springs are formed by coiling a length of wire continuously in thesame direction and then extending the extremities thereof outwardly, andeach of the springs is engaged by a retaining yoke 9. The cross bar ofeach of the yokes 9 is arranged parallel to the pintle 3 and receivedbetween the laterally extended ends 8 of the spring, while the arms ofthe yoke extend through suitable openings in the pintle 3 disposedrespectively above and below the spring.

The extremities of the arms of the spring retaining yoke may beperforated and project beyond the opposite side of the pintle so as tobe engaged by keys or cotter pins 10. These spring retaining yokes 9serve the double function of supporting the springs upon the pintles sothat they will not rest directly upon the hinge members 2 and have atendency to cause a binding action, and also of providing a stop adaptedto engage the ends 8 of the spring when the gate is opened.

When the gate is opened in one direction, one of the ends 8 of thespring will engage the yoke 9 and be held against movement, while theopposite end of the spring will be moved around with the gate so as totighten the convolutions of the spring and produce tension therein. Assoon as the gate is released, this tension in the spring will swing thegate back into a closed posi tion, and when the gate is opened in theopposite direction the action of the spring is merely reversed.Attention may be directed to 4 the fact, however, that the entire springis placed under tension when the gate is opened in either direction, andthis is a distinct advantage over those springs in which one springisflexed when the gate is opened in one direction, and another springflexed when the gate is opened in the opposite direction.

The spring and retaining yoke 9 may be very readily removed from thepintle at any time, and these members may be applied to many gate hingesalready in use, it being merely necessary to provide openings in thepintle for the reception of the 'yoke.

It will thus be obvious that a spring hinge has been provided which isvery simple in its construction, which will not bind or get out ofrepair, and which will always tend to hold the gate in a closedposition.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is a 1. A spring hinge including a pintle, asupport for the pintle, a swinging closure hinged upon the pintle, acoil spring slipped upon the pintle and having the ends thereof extendedlaterally so as to bear against opposite sides of the swinging closure,and a spring retaining yoke carried by the pintle and projecting fromone side thereof, the said spring being received between the arms of theyoke and being thereby supported out of engagement with the swingingclosure, while the cross bar of the yoke is positioned between the twoends of the spring so as to form a stop for engagement with either endof the spring when the gate is opened.

2. A spring hinge including a pintle having openings therein, a swingingclosure hinged upon the pintle, a coil spring arranged upon the pintleand having the ends thereof extended into engagement with opposite sidesof the swinging closure, and a spring retaining yoke removably appliedto the pintle receiving the spring between the arms thereof so as tosupport the spring, the said arms of the yoke extending through theopenings of the pintle, while the cross bar of the yoke is receivedbetween the two ends of the spring so as to form a stop for engagementwith either end of the spring when the gate is opened.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIS C. NOLTE.

Witnesses:

EC. DUFF, J. B. SHEARER.

Copies of this patent ma; be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, I). 0.

